Google Now Defaults to Not Indexing Your Content

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the evolution of Google's search engine and its impact on content creators. It explores how Google's algorithm updates, the "content is king" mantra, and the rise of AI-generated content have shaped the current state of search engine optimization (SEO) and content discovery.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Changing Landscape of Google Search

1. What were the early experiences of content creators with Google's search engine?

• In the early days, content creators could quickly get their new blog posts indexed and ranked highly on Google's search results, which felt like "magic."
• Google's mission to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible" meant that if the information existed on the web, it could be found through clever searching.
• This presented a golden opportunity for content creators to have their content discovered by Google's users.

2. How did Google respond to attempts to manipulate search engine optimization (SEO)?

• Google introduced a series of algorithm updates, such as Panda and Penguin, to combat what it saw as manipulative SEO practices.
• This led to an ongoing "dance" between SEOs and Google, with both sides continuously adapting to the changes.

3. What was the "content is king" mantra, and how did it impact content creation?

• The "content is king" mantra emerged, suggesting that by focusing on creating great content, websites could improve their SEO without resorting to more technical or potentially manipulative tactics.
• However, this concept was never fully true, as many creators of genuinely good content never achieved the rankings they felt they deserved, showing that quality alone wasn't enough.
• The mantra served as a useful simplification for SEOs and content creators, giving them a clear goal to aim for, but it was also a convenient explanation for Google when SEOs delved too deeply into technical details.

[02] Google's Evolving Approach to Search

1. How did the introduction of AI-generated content impact Google's approach to search?

• The release of GPT-1 by OpenAI in 2018 made it clear that AI-generated content, indistinguishable from human-written text, was on the horizon.
• This signaled the end of the "content is king" era, as Google faced a future where AI could generate infinite amounts of human-like content.

2. What were the two main ways Google responded to the rise of AI-generated content?

• Promote the concept of E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), which in practice translates to favoring well-known brands and established websites.
• Abandon the mission of indexing everything and become more selective, only including content in its index when it perceives a genuine need.

3. How has Google's selectivity in indexing content changed over time?

• Google now seems to operate on a "default to not index" basis, only including content in its index when it perceives a genuine need.
• This is based on various factors, such as the perceived uniqueness of the content, the topic coverage, and the authority of the website.
• Smaller bloggers and niche websites face a much higher bar for inclusion in Google's index compared to larger, recognized brands.

4. What are the implications of Google's increased selectivity for users and content creators?

• For users, it means that the information they're looking for might exist but remain undiscoverable through Google, as a vast amount of valuable content is being overlooked.
• For content creators, it presents a significant challenge to gain visibility if Google refuses to index most of their content.